A woman who fled war-torn Somalia as a child was sentenced Tuesday to
eight years in prison for sending $1,450 to members of a terrorist
organization in her native country.

Nima Ali Yusuf, 26, turned her chair in a San Diego courtroom to an
audience packed with dozens of family and supporters, choking back tears
as she declared, "God bless you and do not give up on me." In a letter
to the judge, she insisted she wasn't a terrorist and said her
contributions were motivated by a desire to provide food and medical
care for those in need.